Chapter 18

I HAVE BEEN avoiding him all day. Or he was avoiding me all day. Or maybe we were both just avoiding each other—either way, I haven't seen Chase at all since this morning when I yeeted my fucking converse at his face. There was a point, when we were all helping cleaning up, that I heard him coming up the stairs and I threw myself into the upstairs towel cupboard so fast that I smack my hip against the wall. CEO of being a fucking clumsy idiot. Karma and me are good ol pals and she's making damn sure I pay for making what's apparently the worst decision of my life. After waking up from my umpteenth nap of the day, I throw a white linen dress over my bikini and make my way downstairs in search of a freezer to bury my head in. My brain felt like it had been pulled out piece by piece through my nose, smooshed back together and then put back in my head by a fucking cannon. It's too painful to not be descriptive. I stumble my way out of the bedroom, one hand holding onto the wall for support and the other pressed against my skull as if that would stop the pounding. As I was making my way downstairs, I notice that it was quiet...a little too quiet. It was empty and clean and silent. The sun was setting, allowing the orange haze of the setting sun to streak through the large windows over looking the ocean. The doors were all open, allowing the soft breeze to carry in the scent of summer and salt. I run my fingers over the countertop as I walk into the kitchen and make a beeline for the fridge. I open a door and almost collapse into it. It was so cold and for a slight moment, took away the pain of my fucking delayed hungover. This is what I deserve after the mess I made of myself last night. "What are you doing?" "Fuck!" I hiss as I slam the fridge door close...with my head still inside. The shelves of condiments shake as they slam against my body. I stumble backwards and eventually close the door. When I turn, I place a hand to my hip and the other to the countertop in a completely natural position—note the sarcasm, "Hey...Everett." "Do you really want to avoid me that much that you've resorted to hiding in the refrigerator, Jones?" Chase smirks with a cocked eyebrow as he folds his arms and leans his shoulders against the wall of cabinets, crossing his ankles to complete the very attractive and iconic pose. "I haven't been....I'm not avoiding you....pfft, what gave you that idea?" I question with a cheesy grin as I gestures widely with my hands, a habit I've realised I've picked up whenever I get exposed. "I don't know, maybe the fact that you jumped head first into the hot tub early this morning when I walked outside?" He chuckles as my grin slips from my lips and embarrassment takes over. I groan and run a hand down my face as Chase's small scoff turns into a laugh. "Was it a nice dip?" "Fuck no. It reeked of beer vomit and I don't even want to know in there." I shake my head with a short chuckle as I lean back against the kitchen counter. I glance around at the emptiness of the house, "Hey, where is everyone?" "Well, Vera and Spencer went shopping a couple hours ago and the rest went to go pick up some dinner." Chase explains as he stares down at the floor, "So that just leaves us." "Yup..." I nod as I place my hands back against the countertop and lift myself up so I was sitting on top. I awkwardly sway my legs as I stare at the skin of my knees, tense silence falling around us.  I slowly glance up through my lashes at Chase to see him already staring at me. I sigh out heavily, "We're mature right." Chase raises an eyebrow, "Yeah?" "We can talk about this like adults, right?" I question him, but I was more so questioning myself. Can I even adult? I like to think I can but I can't do shit when it comes to acting my age. Physically? Yes I am an adult. Mentally? I am an eight year old girl who's only goal in life is to fit as many sour candies in her mouth before ripping a hole in her gums. "We slept together Jones, it's not like we haven't done that before." Chase smirks and I knew that asshole was thinking about all the times we had slept together and bought each other to a state of complete ecstasy again and again. "Exactly! We're friends that have slept together. There's nothing bad or awkward about that. We just have to make sure that it doesn't happen again." I then narrow my eyes as I point a finger at him, "And it won't right?" "Of course." Chase nods as he cheekily tilts his chin slightly. He holds my narrowed gaze.  "It won't happen again...." There was a few moments of silence of us just staring at each other. The tension was basically crackling around us and it was only broken when Chase closes the space between us, places one hand on my waist while the other grabs my jaw and he lowers his lips onto mine. My hands go to his hair, gripping the soft strands between my fingers as I work my lips against his. They were always so damn soft and felt so great against mine. His touch was heaven against my skin, cooling it yet lighting it on fire at the exact same time. There was nothing slow about the kiss and nor did I want there to be. I doubt either of us did. I feel Chase's tongue push past my lips and meet mine as they begin to battle for dominance. My hands move from Chase's hair to the hem of his shirt that I begin to pull up. He meets me half way, throws it over his head and then returns his lips to mine. It was giving my major deja vu from the last time we were here, in this exact same position. I wrap my legs around Chase's waist, pulling him closer against me. I feel Chase's hands run down my back and cup my ass just before he picks me up from the countertop. I squeal slightly against his lips as I wrap my arms around his shoulders. He carries me from the kitchen and into the living room, our lips only parting from each other for split seconds to breath. Chase lies me down on the grey sofa and helps me take my white sundress off. Once it was off, I bring his face back to mine instantly and press my lips to his. I wrap my arms and legs around his torso and he begins to massage one of my breast over my bikini. His lips move from mine, down my chin and onto my neck. My eyes close as my head falls back, offering my neck to him more. But a few seconds later, they snap open when knocking echoes over the silent house. I breathe out, "Chase..." "Mhmm." Chase mumbles as he continues to kiss my neck. The person at the door knocks again. "Chase..." I shove his shoulders, "There's someone at the door." "Huh?" Chase questions as he pulls his head back and stares at me. We stare at each other for a while before the knocking comes once more and we stare at the door. "Hayden!? Chase!? Hello, is anyone in there?" Emily calls out before knocking again. "Shit!" I whisper hiss as I push Chase off me and swing my legs off the side of the couch. Chase lays back against the couch, dazed as hell and runs a hand through his head. I run across the living room and grab my dress, throwing it on. I then sprint to the kitchen, grab Chase's shirt and throw it at him, "Put it on!" I rush to the the front door, attempt to calm my breathing down before pulling it open. "Hi!" I grin as I place my hand way above my head and against the door with the other on my hip, "Emily—hey—hi— howdy. What brings you here?" "Hi Hayden." Emily nods as she attempts to peer over my shoulder, "I was just wondering if Chase was here? I need to talk to him." "Uh...." I trail off as I glance over my shoulder and into the living room only to see a now fully clothed Chase seated on the sofa with a pillow on his lap. I turn back to Emily and open the door wider,  "Yup, come on in."